Stethoscope-holder.



No. 735,670. PATENTED AUG. 4, 1903 W. JONES.

STETHOSCOPE HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.19, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented Augustl, 1903 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM JONES, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 735,670, dated August 4,'l903.

Application filed December 19, 1902 Serial No. 135,943. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, XVILLIAM J oNEs, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stethoscope-Holders; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a holder for stethoscopes, my object being to provide a device constructed and arranged to hold the stetho scope in a folded position, whereby it can be easily placed in the pocket and carried about until itis needed for use. Under ordinary circumstances the stethoscope when extended is of considerable length, and so far as I am aware no device has heretofore been produced whereby the stethoscope may be held in convenient compass for carrying about in the pocket. My present invention is believed to fully accomplish this desideratum, and the invention will now be described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front View in detail of the stethoscope-holder. Fig. 2 is an elevation of a stethoscope shown in the extended position ready for use, the ear-tube extremities being spread apart, as is the case when they engage the ears of the user. Fig. shows the holder with the stethoscope folded and in place. Fig. 4 is a rear detail view of the holder. Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5 5, Fig. 1, viewed in the direction of the arrow.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate the stethoscopeholder, whose body portion is preferably composed of a metal plate having the general shape of a rectangle which is of greater extent in one direction than the other. On the longer sides or edges of this plate are formed flanges 7, which are turned upwardly and bent inwardly toward the center of the plate,

giving them a hook-shaped appearance in cross-section. (See Fig. 5.) These flanges engage the ear-tubes 6 of the stethoscope when the latter is in place in the holder and held in position against the tension of the spring 5, whose tendency is to force the ear-tubes outwardly.

At one end of the device are formed lips 7 one on each side, which lips are bent upwardly or forwardly, the flange A being cut away adjacent each lip, as shown at 7 to allow the ear-tube to pass outside of the lip and to engagement with the side flanges. Hence each ear-tube is locked between the hook-shaped flange 7 on the outside and a lip 7 c on the inside. It will be observed that these lips are only formed at one end of the plate, leaving the tubes 6 free at the other end of the plate to be pressed inwardly for purposes of insertion and removal. I

Applied to the front centralportion of the device is a spring-clamp 9, having yielding outwardlyeprojecting jaws 9, adapted to re= ceive the neck or reduced part of the bell of the stethoscope when the latter isfolded and applied to the holder, as shown in Fig. 3. The end of the plate remote from that equipped with the lip 7 is provided with a V-shaped recess 7- which is widest at its outer extremity, to allow the larger part of the bell 8 of the stethoscope to protrude, making the package more compact and symmetrical when the stethoscope is applied to the holder, as shown in Fig. 3.

To facilitate the folding of the instrument into small compass the spring of the instrument is slidably connected with the ear-tubes, whereby it may be moved toward the tips of the latter preparatory to placing it in the holder. My improved construction of stethoscope is covered by another application, filed October 25, 1902, Serial No. 128,830.

\Vhen it is desired to put the device in the pocket, the spring 5 is moved toward the tips of the ear-tubes and the latter arepress'ed toward each other until they are in position to engage the hookshaped flanges '7 of the holder. The ear-tubes pass between these flanges and occupy a position outside of the lip 7 c of the holder, whereby they are held securely in place. The bell 8 is then passed under the holder and thence up over the cartubes at one end of the" holder and pressed between the parts 9 of spring-clamp 9, attached to the front face of the holder. The device then occupies the position shown in Fig. 2 and is ready to be: placed in the pocket for convenience of carrving about.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. As an improved article of manufacture, a stethoscope-holder comprising a plate, having parts projecting 0 itwardly on opposite sides to engage the ear-tubes of the instrument, and suitable means connected with the plate for holding the bell in place.

2. A stethoscope-holder comprising a plate having separated hook-shaped projections adapted to engage the ear-tubes and prevent the latter from spreading, and a clasp interposed between said projections for holding the bell in place.

A stethoscope-holder comprising a plate having hook-shaped flanges extending along two opposite edges, and a clasp located between the flanges, substantially as described.

at. A stetl1osoopeholder comprising a plate having separated hook-shaped flanges, a clasp located between the flanges, and lips at one end of the plate, arranged to cooperate with the flanges to hold the ear-tubes in place, substantially as described.

5. A stethoscope-holder composed of a plate having projections to prevent the ear-tubes from spreading, and other projections located at one end of the device to prevent the said tubes from moving in the opposite direction.

6. A stethoscope-holder comprising a plate having side flanges cut away at one end and lips at the cut-away end of the flanges and set inwardly to engage the ear-tubes on the opposite sides from the flanges.

7. A stethoscope-holder comprising a plate having side projections and a recess formed at one end for the purpose set forth.

8. A stethoscope-holder comprising a plate having flanges along two opposite sides or edges and inwardly-set lips at one end, a space being left between the end of the flanges and the said lips to allow the ear-tubes to enter, and means located intermediate-the flanges for holding the bell in place.

9. A stethoscope-holder comprising a plate having side flanges, lips set inwardly with reference to the flanges, a space being left between the lips and the flanges, a spring-clasp centrally lo cated between the flanges, and a recess formed in the plate remote from the lip. In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIAM JONES. Witnesses:

A. J. OBRIEN, DENA NELsoN. 

